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QBE Shootout founder and host Greg Norman is a World Golf Hall of Famer and held the No. 1 ranking for 331 weeks, a streak bested only by Tiger Woods.

Norman, 64, and Woods are having a different kind of "competition" with a number of surgeries. Norman said he's had 12 golf-related ones, and Woods has finally recaptured his game to quite the degree after another surgery, this one a spinal fusion in April 2017 for his fourth back surgery and ninth overall.

Woods came back to win the Masters this year, and won in Japan this fall to tie Sam Snead with 82 tour victories.

"I think it's great what he's done coming back," Norman said. "You know, it's not that easy when you go through surgeries to get back to where you were. He's not; he's swinging great, but he's swinging within himself, which is much better to see.

"So therefore, he's learned a lot about what the old swing did and what damage it did on his body because speed and power is going to break down somewhere sooner or later."

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Greg Norman tees off on the 5th hole during the QBE Shootout Pro-Am in Naples at the Tiburón Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.(Photo: Chris Tilley/ Special to Naples Daily News)

Woods isn't alone as far as surgeries for top players go. Brooks Koepka withdrew from the Presidents Cup due to a knee injury, and Dustin Johnson is just returning from knee surgery in Australia this week.

"Everybody only has so much in their joints to deliver and if you have that constant wear and tear on it," Norman said. "I mean, you look at all the power players in the world, (Jack) Nicklaus has got a bad back, I've had a bad back, bad knees. I've had 13 surgeries because of golf. Actually, 12 because of golf.

"It's because we put so much load on our body. You're swinging the clubhead at 126, 127 miles an hour like I used to do with those old heavy pieces of equipment we used to play with, it tells us something's going on in your body when you're doing it thousands and thousands of time on a repetitive basis, no matter how fit and strong you are."

While players are hitting it longer partly because of equipment, they're also using a refining another technology — training — to allow them to generate that power.

"I think the technology with health and wellness with the players has really elevated," Norman said. "I think they listen to their coaches, they listen to their trainers, they listen to their physiotherapists, so they build their own physical program around their own body, because that's the right way to do it because your body's your fingerprint.

"I wouldn't work out like (Dustin Johnson) works out and I wouldn't work out like (Justin Thomas) works out. I work out because I know what works for me. So everybody's independent on that and I think the longevity's there."

Norman was part of the International team when they won their only Presidents Cup, back in 1998. That was at Royal Melbourne, where this week's is being held. Prior to Thursday night's matches, the Internationals had taken a 4-1 lead following Wednesday's play.

"I think what (captain) Ernie (Els) did," Norman said. "I think he had the decision of making it the four-ball instead of the foursomes first up was great. Probably a few lingering things with the American team, whether it's jet lag or not knowing Royal Melbourne as well as some of the International players, would have messaged down to the guys who hadn't played Royal Melbourne.

"They had been there probably over the weekend before so they would have got to know the golf course a little bit better. But it's an information highway about that golf course. You need to know it and you need to know the little nuances of what it's all about."

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Patton Kizzire, Brian Harman are excited to be back to defend at QBE Shootout in Naples.
Naples Daily News

Harman/Kizzire hope to repeat: Defending champions Brian Harman and Patton Kizzire would like to jump-start their 2019-2020 PGA Tour season the same way they did a year ago by winning the QBE Shootout.

The Georgia residents won while finishing at 30 under par, one shot ahead of Graeme McDowell and Emiliano Grillo. Harman is playing in his third QBE Shootout, Kizzire his second.

“We hope to play well. The tournament is not so serious and while you compete you can also cut up a little big, which happens out there.” Harman said.

“I always heard what a fun event the Shootout is and it's a nice perk to the season,” Kizzire said. “You still have to be careful here because the winds can shift.”

Harman finished the 2018-2019 season 88th in the FedEx Cup standings and then started the new season with a third place at the Greenbrier. He had three other top-20 finishes in the fall.

Kizzire was not as fortunate, finishing last year 122nd in the FedEx Cup while making 13 cuts in 25 events. This fall he played seven events and missed the cut four times.

“The first half was bad then I trended a little better in the second half,” Harman said. “I'm excited to play this week and use as a springboard into the first part of the year.”

“My focus is short term and I intend to be prepared and execute,” Kizzire said.

Bubba Watson and his caddie talking with an official on the 9th fairway during the QBE Shootout Pro-Am in Naples at the Tiburón Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Chris Tilley/ Special to Naples Daily News

Sean O'Hair and Chris Berman talk about the green on the 6th hole during the QBE Shootout Pro-Am in Naples at the Tiburón Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Chris Tilley/ Special to Naples Daily News

Sean O'Hair and Chris Berman talk about the green on the 6th hole during the QBE Shootout Pro-Am in Naples at the Tiburón Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Chris Tilley/ Special to Naples Daily News

Charles Kelley and Kevin Kisner looking down the fairway at the 5th green during the QBE Shootout Pro-Am in Naples at the Tiburón Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Chris Tilley/ Special to Naples Daily News

Charles Kelley and Kevin Kisner looking down the fairway at the 5th green during the QBE Shootout Pro-Am in Naples at the Tiburón Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Chris Tilley/ Special to Naples Daily News

Both Harman and Kizzire have joined a large contingent of tour players learning to adjust their schedule with 13 events played in the fall of the next season and a change of dates for the majors.

“It's more of a mental thing today with the schedule, it's almost like going to school year round and if you don't watch, mental fatigue can happen,” Harman said.

“The fine-tuning never ends and the guys want to peak for the majors and playoffs,” Kizzire said. “Past year has been a little less than desired for me, but I've been making changes so I can help this guy out this week.”

Watson watches magic: Bubba Watson had hit his approach into his final hole, the ninth, and then witnessed some magic from one of his pro-am players.

Kevin Brogan holed out his second shot from 120 yards in the fairway for a team eagle.

Peggy Orr was also part of the Watson foursome. If you don't recognize the name her husband is Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, one of Boston's magical sports figures. He was part of her gallery.

Bubba was impressed with Orr's game.

“She is a great little player, hits it down the middle on every shot,” Watson said.

Orr was also impressed with Watson's game.

“Bubba was a joy to play with, fun to walk and talk with,” she said.

Clinic Friday; 5k, yoga Saturday: The Family Golf Clinic presented by the Collier tourism bureau will be at 4:30 p.m. on the Tiburón putting green, since the south end of the driving range is taken up by the stage and setup for Saturday's Live Fest concert.

Tournament host Greg Norman will be joined by a few players from the Shootout for the clinic.

The Lee Health 5k will be Saturday morning, with registration at 6 a.m. and the race starting at 7 a.m. near the spectator main entrance.